Still seeking answers 21 years after Kilkenny woman Jo Jo Dollard went missing

7 Nov 2016

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Sean Keane

Wednesday will mark the 21st anniversary of the disappearance of Callan woman, Jo Jo Dollard.

Her case has remained in the minds of people from Kilkenny for over two decades while her family have never given up hope of finding her remains and having them, interred with her parents.

Everyone knows that she was murdered sometime after her last known contact with the outside world at 11.30pm on Thursday, November 9, 1995 while phoning a friend from the public phone box in Moone - The phone box was later removed.

Now, a local priest has asked anyone with information on Jo Jo to ring him in the strictest confidence, Fr Willie Purcell on 0876286858.

“Don't be afraid, we just need to bring Jo Jo home for Christian burial,” he said.

On Sunday, the annual remembrance gathering will take place at the missing persons monument at Kilkenny Castle at 2 pm.

“We will gather first at the gates of Kilkenny castle with members of Jo Jo's family,” Fr Willie disclosed.

Barefooted

It is more than probable, according to reliable garda sources, that Jo Jo Dollard was the young woman who ran barefooted from a car at Dunkitt, Kilmacow on the night she went missing.

However, Jo Jo's sister Kathleen Bergin is still keeping an open mind and has made a heart felt plea to those who may have harmed Jo Jo or to those who might know something about her disappearance. “Time has moved on and those who may know something might now be in a position to talk,” she did.

“Maybe they saw or overheard something or noticed something suspicious

“Please don't be afraid. Come forward and end our suffering,” she said as she stood by the missing persons monument in the Kilkenny Castle Park, with her sister Mary, on the 20th anniversary of Jo Jo's disappearance.

“If there is someone out there who does know of someone who has harmed Jo Jo, realise you are protecting a killer who may strike again,” she said.

A girl fitting her description was seen in Castledermot shortly afterwards. Nearly an hour later at Dunkitt, Kilmacow a young girl was hauled, barefoot, back into the rear of a car by two unidentified men.

This information only came to light 15 months after Jo Jo's disappearance. Gardai are following a number of leads in the case at present.

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